Alasdair MacColla help

[Colonel White]

I have decided to bring this out of my "blogg thread" just in case it is missed by one of you experts on this topic.I must admit this is driving me nuts.How do I best represent using Warlord figures MacColla's LifeGuards as it appears I need a unit of these.I am assuming that these are not a conventional PIke and Shotte unit but a mob of looney Scots Highlanders or are they Irish  or a mixture of both. I am thinking of mixing a box of Highlanders with a box of Irish brigade less the pike. Am I near to the mark with this?Did they use a standard?

[Cubster]

Personally I'd represent them as highland gentlemen - ie. your better-dressed and equipped plaid-wearing type. They're likely to be pretty well dressed (but you've just gotta throw some kilts in too) and armed in eclectic and personal fashion - a mix of whatever you like really, broadsword & targe, pistols, claymore, lochaber axe, musket, whatever you fancy.The terms 'Irish' and 'Highlander' are kind of misleading and were somewhat interchangeable at the time. Often the word (either one) simply meant that person came from Northern Ireland, the Western Isles or the Scottish Highlands. Thus 'Irish' or 'Highland' figures would be fine mixed up in a single unit.

[John at Warlord Games]

Hi Colonel.. I think you both have got it about right.. Course we dont know the exact composition of his bodyguard, but you  would bet they would be a tough crew,,, I think it entirley possible that they could carry a colour...and it would look great too.  But blowed If I know whst it looks like... send pics in when done..  Cheers john s

[mikeland]

I think I would probably follow Cubsters advice and go for a mixed bag of hand weapons and musketeers. To add to what was said about the terms Highlander and Irish being interchangeable, MacColla's force was a mix of Irish and Scotts so you have freedom to pick and choose from the ranges. Perhaps you could even throw in a few half pikes (spontoons) or even give some of your musketeers swinefeathers, (all available from the webstore). The historical details are sketchy and so it is a great opportunity to have some fun. In fact it makes me want to do highlanders myself... (must resist, already committed to ECW Parliamentarians and opposing royalist forces and just getting into Imperial Romans and Celts, resist) ... perhaps I will just have to make do with a band of clubmen.  

[charge the guns]

 Hi Colonel. Alasdair's 'lifeguard' seem to have been drawn from the Irish Brigade. Several times Alasdair went off on some foray and took around 100+ men termed his lifeguard. It would be nice to think of this group being his most loyal followers and closest family and friends, so a group of Hebridean highlanders with muskets and other exotic weapons would be quite fitting. Alasdair is meant to have had two bodyguards (modeled by Warlord of course ) who were called Dubhaltach (dark haired?) MacPhee and Calum Mor (big Calum?) MacInnes. Being bodyguard to a giant highland swordsman must have been an interesting job! At Auldearn there is mention made of Alasdair's ensign being cut down letting fall Alasdair's "yellow banner". The colour was taken up only for the next three carriers to also be shot down in succession. Stirring stuff . There is no mention of any device on the colour. Perhaps a red saltire of St. Patrick? I think Minimore's men (re. your other message) would be best represented as highlanders as well. As they were the "Gordon levies" with Alasdair in the desperate fighting at Auldearn I'm left with the impression they were not pikemen. The Covenant army at Auldearn should definitely have a few archers - Seaforth's men from Lewis.

[Colonel White]

THanks guys again for your help. I really do appreciate this input and without it , it would be very difficult to do projects such as this. It seems a fine balnce between historical accuaracy and that of characterful flavour.The life guards appears to be a very small unit with only numbering around 100, which probably equates to the size of the pike unit within a conventional battalia unit. SO I am thinking a unit of around 16 will do the job.As regards the Minimore unit which itself is quite intriguing according the  Auldearn 1645 blogg, in the orders of battle,  this unit did have a pike element in it. I appreciaste that it will not look anything like the "posh" and "proper" looking English Royalist units but a rag tag unit perhaps with some highlanders mixed in .Again after buying a box of Irish , I may put a few of the pike men (left over from the box needed for the lifeguard) but with the shorter pike. As regards uniforms for this unit I am assuming they would be vitually none existant and perhaps various shades of grey,brown and any other doudy colour would do, led of course by excellently attired Scots Gentry.That is the image I have in my head for this particular unit.Will need to do some research for the standard for this unit.If I can't find any commercial or "freebies"on the web, then I am thinking in terms of using the Gordon Emblem which has 3 boars heads on a blue background.PS MIkeland  If you have not started painting your ECW forces, its not too late to start 2 Scots forces. Bits such as Scots Bonnets can be obtained direct from Warlord to turn your existing soldiers into Scots. If you enjoy doing research , then this is a great project and is quite challenging in that department and hopefully any holes can be filled in by the experts on this site. It would also be great for both of us because then we can mutually suport each other after all that is what this great hobby is all about.

[Cubster]

charge the guns said:

 At Auldearn there is mention made of Alasdair's ensign being cut down letting fall Alasdair's "yellow banner". The colour was taken up only for the next three carriers to also be shot down in succession. Stirring stuff . There is no mention of any device on the colour. Perhaps a red saltire of St. Patrick?

 

---

 Ah, now that's interesting because some of the Irish Brigade, being Catholics, had religious icons on their flags and the yellow background was common to them. Perhaps the central design was a Madonna and Child theme?

[BigMike]

@ Cubster,That seems likely doesn't it - and would be a very different banner from others in the army so would stand out really well.

[TheGreatMarquis]

I agree with Cubster on this one.If you want an illustration that's easy to access, there's an Irish Brigade colour-bearer in one of the plates in Osprey's Scots Armies by Stuart Reid. Its a yellow flag with religious figure of Madonna and child. Very ostentatiously catholic, just the thing to annoy the miserable presbyterians on the other side!Then you really need the Warlord cleric...

[Colonel White]

I do have the Montose Irish Box in front of me as I key. There are a couple of yellow ones in there which I could use. These Irish figures are fantastic and some of the best characterful minis I have seen for the ECW.And of course yes you are right about the cleric this must be a must have figure.THe research is coming together quite nicely now especiallywith the help received from you guys and  I have found my old WHECW rule book which also has some ideas on how to field these less known units.Especially with the help from you guys I would seriously consider the Scots/Irish if anyone is considering this period and want something a little different  from the norm. Many thanks again and if someone else wants to have their input more the merrier. Thanks again